Experts Help A Center To Help The Jobless

With hungry sharks ready to bite vulnerable people who lost their jobs in the recession, it's great to see an island of safety where those needing help are welcomed by trained people prepared to offer anything from food to resume advice — all for free.

The island is in West Hartford near the Bloomfield line at the Jewish Family Services center. The center has already helped dozens of people of all faiths get back on their feet after losing their jobs in the worst recession since the 1930s.

Two of the key players are certified financial planner Jim Goldman, who volunteers every Wednesday to help people with money problems and questions, and human resources expert Judith Rosenthal, who works dozens of hours each week helping those who lost their jobs, or think they might.

The program began last September when Goldman approached the center and offered his services as a money coach for people overwhelmed by credit card bills or facing foreclosure.At about the same time, the family services center began hearing from rabbis about large numbers of their congregants losing their jobs, many of them white-collar workers who had never before faced the prospect of being tossed out onto the street.A committee was formed, including Goldman and Rosenthal, a former critical-care nurse who later started human resources departments for companies. By January, Rosenthal had prepared the first of several programs.

"I wrote a program on how to conduct a job search in this environment," said Rosenthal, a consultant. "More than 60 people came to the first one and I had 22 handouts for them." The handouts covered issues such as how to begin a job search, preparing for an interview, deciding what your strengths and skills are, writing resumes and cover letters, and what difficult questions to expect in an interview. As soon as she can transmit these handouts to me I will post them on my blog at www.courant.com/ctwatchdog.

She and Goldman are now working on a networking group for out-of-work people as well as those who think they may be downsized. Its called the Schmoozer's Networking Group and its first meeting will be at Restaurant Bricco from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on June 24. The owner, Billy Grant, offered his restaurant for the free meetings.

Rosenthal has many other plans in the works. She will be asking area dry cleaners, shoe repair stores, and hairdressers to help unemployed people look sharp for their interviews.

And then she hopes that businesses will start knocking on her door, looking for capable workers.

Goldman, who works for RBC Wealth Management, conducts workshops and works with people one-on-one. He helps them decide how to negotiate with credit card companies and how to decide which bills to pay first.

Instead of paying off the one with the highest interest rate, Goldman said he suggests to many people that they pay off one of the smallest bills.

"I want them to have the good feeling of having six bills instead of seven," he said. His goal is to have people eliminate all credit cards except for one, which should be used to charge all major purchases. However, that bill should be paid off each month. He recommends the American Express Blue cash rewards card, which does not have a yearly fee.

One area where Goldman does not have expertise is in bankruptcy law. Goldman said he would love to find a bankruptcy lawyer willing to volunteer even a few hours each month.

There are many other programs and services available to people of all faiths at Jewish Family Services, which has a $1.89 million dollar budget coming from gifts as well as traditional sources such as the United Way.

Michelle Souza, director of marketing and development for the almost 100-year-old social service agency, said it started for the Jewish community, but that its clientele is now half non-Jewish.

With a paid staff of about 30 and almost that many volunteers, the agency provides counseling, advocacy, elderly care, educational programming, a kosher pantry, free personal hygiene and home cleaning products, and even has a small account to help people with their utility bills.

"We are a small agency with a large mission," she said, adding that requests for assistance have increased two-fold over the past year.

Rosenthal said she receives great rewards from helping people. She shared with me a letter from a man named Steve that she received after her first workshop: "I want to thank you and your volunteers for making this workshop available to me. Your kindness and generosity to a Catholic during these difficult times serves as an example of the Golden Rule and I will forever be grateful for the mitzvah you shared with me and fellow unemployed."

Getting to know Jewish Family Services as a guest speaker and having met the volunteers and staff, I firmly believe that this organization deserves the support of the community. I urge those who need its services to call 860- 236-1927.

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